Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2841 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

When Mr Osborne asked in the Estimates Committee whether we were paying for more than we were getting, he was told by one of the police officers who were at the Estimates Committee, when asked whether that was true, "No, not entirely". Mr Speaker, this week, the Minister has confirmed that Mr Osborne's summary of events was true, that we were paying for more than we were getting. Mr Speaker, I do not believe in making attacks on police officers, but I do believe that we as the parliament have a right to scrutinise the police, just as we have a right to scrutinise health, education and all the other functions of government.

In Mr Humphries's answer to my question, Mr Humphries also claimed that my very first question in parliament was an attack on the police. In fact, Mr Speaker, my very first question in parliament was as follows:

Mrs Carnell, the Andersen report, which you claimed during the election campaign you would implement, found that the ACT overspends nearly $6m on VMO payments. In the light of your failure to deliver these savings, how many public sector jobs will have to go to pay for your deal with the doctors?

Mr Speaker, in the light of history, it was a very prophetic question.

MR BERRY (Leader of the Opposition): I would like to make a personal statement pursuant to standing order 46. Mr Speaker, during question time Mrs Carnell wasted no time in making a personal tirade against my independence and other matters in relation to the inquiry which is being held into the establishment of the private hospital in the ACT. Mr Speaker, I do not hide my support for the public hospital system under a bushel, and I will continue to make it a public issue while ever I can. Mr Speaker, I do not hide my acknowledgment of the private hospital system having an important place in the delivery of health services. Neither do I take responsibility for the leads in radio stories. I would ask that members here who ask questions on the basis of them check them with me first, rather than rely on them.

So far as my independence on these issues is concerned, my views about public health care are fairly well known across the board, probably right throughout the ACT, and I have nothing to hide in respect of that. Mr Speaker, again so far as my independence is concerned, I feel that it would stand up well in comparison to the independence of Mrs Carnell when she was involved in a committee on - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: And I would stand up well against Mr Moore when he was involved in a committee in relation to euthanasia.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .